[garysears]

Why even follow the zillow estimates? You can do a much better job yourself in estimating market value just by paying attention to the MLS. In my experience, Zillow is less accurate that cyberhome or eappraisal.

If automated programs were to work well, seems like they would work best in a stable market. This market is anything but stable. There are two markets really: the all cash market and the FHA market which the flippers are selling to.

[garysears]

This is personality dependent. What is desirable to most is not desirable to me. I tend to be antisocial. I really don’t like people so you can have the city, shops, restaurants, and bars.

For me, the choice is between bottom end in the ghetto to reduce overall cost of living, or pay extra for a little less ghetto.

I might be in escrow soon. With my current offer I opted for a big lot with options (house plus granny flat, could actually be 3 units). The only place you can get 1/2 acre or more is the boonies (35 minute commute each way).

I look at that big yard with all the trees and just see a lot of work that I am not anxious to do. My wife looks at it and sees a play paradise for our 19 month old. As active as my kid is, I have to agree with the wife. Time to get a dog and cut the kid loose to run around.

If I pull the trigger I fully expect to be a long term landlord as I see the downside risk. But it is cheaper than renting. Having followed the market seriously since 2004 I am at a loss as to what lies ahead. Common sense seems to say price declines are still possible but with 20% down, at the offer price I should be able to comfortable cash flow the property as a rental (plus several hundred dollars of rent decrease buffer) if I have to move. Not that 2007 prices are any indicator, but 55% off 2007 prices probably has a lot of the downside beat out of it.

I mostly analyze based on total cost and downside risk and don’t care so much about location.

[garysears]

This is personality dependent. What is desirable to most is not desirable to me. I tend to be antisocial. I really don’t like people so you can have the city, shops, restaurants, and bars.

For me, the choice is between bottom end in the ghetto to reduce overall cost of living, or pay extra for a little less ghetto.

I might be in escrow soon. With my current offer I opted for a big lot with options (house plus granny flat, could actually be 3 units). The only place you can get 1/2 acre or more is the boonies (35 minute commute each way).

I look at that big yard with all the trees and just see a lot of work that I am not anxious to do. My wife looks at it and sees a play paradise for our 19 month old. As active as my kid is, I have to agree with the wife. Time to get a dog and cut the kid loose to run around.

If I pull the trigger I fully expect to be a long term landlord as I see the downside risk. But it is cheaper than renting. Having followed the market seriously since 2004 I am at a loss as to what lies ahead. Common sense seems to say price declines are still possible but with 20% down, at the offer price I should be able to comfortable cash flow the property as a rental (plus several hundred dollars of rent decrease buffer) if I have to move. Not that 2007 prices are any indicator, but 55% off 2007 prices probably has a lot of the downside beat out of it.

I mostly analyze based on total cost and downside risk and don’t care so much about location.

[garysears]

This is personality dependent. What is desirable to most is not desirable to me. I tend to be antisocial. I really don’t like people so you can have the city, shops, restaurants, and bars.

For me, the choice is between bottom end in the ghetto to reduce overall cost of living, or pay extra for a little less ghetto.

I might be in escrow soon. With my current offer I opted for a big lot with options (house plus granny flat, could actually be 3 units). The only place you can get 1/2 acre or more is the boonies (35 minute commute each way).

I look at that big yard with all the trees and just see a lot of work that I am not anxious to do. My wife looks at it and sees a play paradise for our 19 month old. As active as my kid is, I have to agree with the wife. Time to get a dog and cut the kid loose to run around.

If I pull the trigger I fully expect to be a long term landlord as I see the downside risk. But it is cheaper than renting. Having followed the market seriously since 2004 I am at a loss as to what lies ahead. Common sense seems to say price declines are still possible but with 20% down, at the offer price I should be able to comfortable cash flow the property as a rental (plus several hundred dollars of rent decrease buffer) if I have to move. Not that 2007 prices are any indicator, but 55% off 2007 prices probably has a lot of the downside beat out of it.

I mostly analyze based on total cost and downside risk and don’t care so much about location.

[garysears]

This is personality dependent. What is desirable to most is not desirable to me. I tend to be antisocial. I really don’t like people so you can have the city, shops, restaurants, and bars.

For me, the choice is between bottom end in the ghetto to reduce overall cost of living, or pay extra for a little less ghetto.

I might be in escrow soon. With my current offer I opted for a big lot with options (house plus granny flat, could actually be 3 units). The only place you can get 1/2 acre or more is the boonies (35 minute commute each way).

I look at that big yard with all the trees and just see a lot of work that I am not anxious to do. My wife looks at it and sees a play paradise for our 19 month old. As active as my kid is, I have to agree with the wife. Time to get a dog and cut the kid loose to run around.

If I pull the trigger I fully expect to be a long term landlord as I see the downside risk. But it is cheaper than renting. Having followed the market seriously since 2004 I am at a loss as to what lies ahead. Common sense seems to say price declines are still possible but with 20% down, at the offer price I should be able to comfortable cash flow the property as a rental (plus several hundred dollars of rent decrease buffer) if I have to move. Not that 2007 prices are any indicator, but 55% off 2007 prices probably has a lot of the downside beat out of it.

I mostly analyze based on total cost and downside risk and don’t care so much about location.

[garysears]

This is personality dependent. What is desirable to most is not desirable to me. I tend to be antisocial. I really don’t like people so you can have the city, shops, restaurants, and bars.

For me, the choice is between bottom end in the ghetto to reduce overall cost of living, or pay extra for a little less ghetto.

I might be in escrow soon. With my current offer I opted for a big lot with options (house plus granny flat, could actually be 3 units). The only place you can get 1/2 acre or more is the boonies (35 minute commute each way).

I look at that big yard with all the trees and just see a lot of work that I am not anxious to do. My wife looks at it and sees a play paradise for our 19 month old. As active as my kid is, I have to agree with the wife. Time to get a dog and cut the kid loose to run around.

If I pull the trigger I fully expect to be a long term landlord as I see the downside risk. But it is cheaper than renting. Having followed the market seriously since 2004 I am at a loss as to what lies ahead. Common sense seems to say price declines are still possible but with 20% down, at the offer price I should be able to comfortable cash flow the property as a rental (plus several hundred dollars of rent decrease buffer) if I have to move. Not that 2007 prices are any indicator, but 55% off 2007 prices probably has a lot of the downside beat out of it.

I mostly analyze based on total cost and downside risk and don’t care so much about location.

[garysears]

I was annoyed when they made the vaccine mandatory for all military. I understand the need to have combat ready deployed forces, but this applies to all personnel stateside. At some point I just wish I could vote on what I put in my body. I support most vaccinations but draw the line at the flu. I mean, seriously, for healthy people the flu is not a big deal. The annual shot probably lags the current strain that is making everyone sick.

Then again I’m not normal. I don’t take over the counter medications, nor do I have any prescriptions. That is a combination of youth and good health and desire to not buy into the whole modern drug racket.

[garysears]

I was annoyed when they made the vaccine mandatory for all military. I understand the need to have combat ready deployed forces, but this applies to all personnel stateside. At some point I just wish I could vote on what I put in my body. I support most vaccinations but draw the line at the flu. I mean, seriously, for healthy people the flu is not a big deal. The annual shot probably lags the current strain that is making everyone sick.

Then again I’m not normal. I don’t take over the counter medications, nor do I have any prescriptions. That is a combination of youth and good health and desire to not buy into the whole modern drug racket.

[garysears]

I was annoyed when they made the vaccine mandatory for all military. I understand the need to have combat ready deployed forces, but this applies to all personnel stateside. At some point I just wish I could vote on what I put in my body. I support most vaccinations but draw the line at the flu. I mean, seriously, for healthy people the flu is not a big deal. The annual shot probably lags the current strain that is making everyone sick.

Then again I’m not normal. I don’t take over the counter medications, nor do I have any prescriptions. That is a combination of youth and good health and desire to not buy into the whole modern drug racket.

[garysears]

I was annoyed when they made the vaccine mandatory for all military. I understand the need to have combat ready deployed forces, but this applies to all personnel stateside. At some point I just wish I could vote on what I put in my body. I support most vaccinations but draw the line at the flu. I mean, seriously, for healthy people the flu is not a big deal. The annual shot probably lags the current strain that is making everyone sick.

Then again I’m not normal. I don’t take over the counter medications, nor do I have any prescriptions. That is a combination of youth and good health and desire to not buy into the whole modern drug racket.

[garysears]

I was annoyed when they made the vaccine mandatory for all military. I understand the need to have combat ready deployed forces, but this applies to all personnel stateside. At some point I just wish I could vote on what I put in my body. I support most vaccinations but draw the line at the flu. I mean, seriously, for healthy people the flu is not a big deal. The annual shot probably lags the current strain that is making everyone sick.

Then again I’m not normal. I don’t take over the counter medications, nor do I have any prescriptions. That is a combination of youth and good health and desire to not buy into the whole modern drug racket.

[garysears]

I agree the pameliza about the best shot for 20% down buyers being short sales. That is where I have been trying. But forget getting an offer accepted, I can’t even get a reply to my offers, not even the one I just made at full price the first day, the first offer. The laziness of the listing agents is just stunning. This is obviously an extreme seller’s market. Comps for short sales can be tricky. I offered 165k on a value range of 150-165k. A recent comp just closed for 260k but 4 months ago closed as a short sale for 130k. Not sure how appraisers should see it. Obviously, the 260k will get priority, but I wonder how a 100% markup on a property with both sales closed in the past 6 months really looks to lenders. Doesn’t look sustainable to me but I’ve been amazed for the past year at the return to insanity.

[garysears]

I agree the pameliza about the best shot for 20% down buyers being short sales. That is where I have been trying. But forget getting an offer accepted, I can’t even get a reply to my offers, not even the one I just made at full price the first day, the first offer. The laziness of the listing agents is just stunning. This is obviously an extreme seller’s market. Comps for short sales can be tricky. I offered 165k on a value range of 150-165k. A recent comp just closed for 260k but 4 months ago closed as a short sale for 130k. Not sure how appraisers should see it. Obviously, the 260k will get priority, but I wonder how a 100% markup on a property with both sales closed in the past 6 months really looks to lenders. Doesn’t look sustainable to me but I’ve been amazed for the past year at the return to insanity.

[garysears]

I agree the pameliza about the best shot for 20% down buyers being short sales. That is where I have been trying. But forget getting an offer accepted, I can’t even get a reply to my offers, not even the one I just made at full price the first day, the first offer. The laziness of the listing agents is just stunning. This is obviously an extreme seller’s market. Comps for short sales can be tricky. I offered 165k on a value range of 150-165k. A recent comp just closed for 260k but 4 months ago closed as a short sale for 130k. Not sure how appraisers should see it. Obviously, the 260k will get priority, but I wonder how a 100% markup on a property with both sales closed in the past 6 months really looks to lenders. Doesn’t look sustainable to me but I’ve been amazed for the past year at the return to insanity.

[garysears]

I agree the pameliza about the best shot for 20% down buyers being short sales. That is where I have been trying. But forget getting an offer accepted, I can’t even get a reply to my offers, not even the one I just made at full price the first day, the first offer. The laziness of the listing agents is just stunning. This is obviously an extreme seller’s market. Comps for short sales can be tricky. I offered 165k on a value range of 150-165k. A recent comp just closed for 260k but 4 months ago closed as a short sale for 130k. Not sure how appraisers should see it. Obviously, the 260k will get priority, but I wonder how a 100% markup on a property with both sales closed in the past 6 months really looks to lenders. Doesn’t look sustainable to me but I’ve been amazed for the past year at the return to insanity.

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